Dinner doesn’t get easier than this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe! It’s an easy dump and go recipe that results in tender, flavorful shredded pork with minimal effort, and it’s great for tacos, nachos, sandwiches and more!

Slow cooker pulled pork on a white plate

Planning dinner can be extremely cumbersome, so it’s nice to have back pocket recipes like Instant Pot shredded chicken and bbq pulled chicken that can be prepped ahead and used a variety of ways throughout the week.

Pork is always a welcome change in my household. My family loves oven baked pork chops, and this slow cooker pork loin is perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining.

Having a batch of Slow Cooker Pulled Pork ready to go in the fridge is another way to win at dinner time.

Like shredded chicken, pulled pork is a blank canvas that can be changed up with almost any spices, sauces or tossed into salads or grain bowls. Be sure to see my serving suggestions towards the bottom of this post!

If you want to get it on the table even faster, be sure to check out my Instant Pot Pulled Pork. It cooks up in a fraction of the time!

Slow cooker pulled pork on a white plate with a fork

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • This easy crock pot pulled pork recipe is cooked for hours in the slow cooker with aromatics, spices and beer until falling apart tender.
  • It takes just a few ingredients that can be customized to suit your tastes or utilize what you have on hand.
  • It’s the perfect meal prep recipe that can be made entirely in advance and used a variety of ways throughout the week.
  • Use gluten-free beer or a different cooking liquid to make this recipe gluten-free!

Recipe ingredients

There are just a few ingredients in this pulled pork crock pot recipe, and they can be changed up according to what you have on hand.

Slow cooker pulled pork recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

  • Pork. The best cuts of pork for this recipe are pork shoulder and pork butt. Both include plenty of fat that melts into the meat, which makes it very tender.
  • Spices. I rubbed the pork with a simple rub of kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika and cumin, but you can change things up with your favorite spices or rubs. If using regular table salt instead of kosher salt, be sure to cut the amount of salt in half.
  • Aromatics. The onion and garlic impart a ton of flavor to the liquid, which is absorbed into the pork.
  • Beer. While the beer is optional, it really adds great flavor. Any variety will work, and gluten-free beer may be used to make this recipe gluten-free. The beer may be substituted with chicken stock, pineapple juice, apple cider or your favorite liquid.

How to make this recipe

It doesn’t get easier than this slow cooker pulled pork. It takes several hours to make, so you can simply set it and forget it.

Pro tip: Prep the pork and aromatics the night before so that you can simply dump everything into the slow cooker in the morning and go!

See the recipe card below for full instructions.

How to make pulled pork in the slow cooker
  1. In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, pepper, smoked paprika and cumin and sprinkle evenly over the pieces of pork.
  2. Place the diced onion and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker, then place the pieces of pork over the top.
  3. Pour the beer over the pork and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for about 6 hours or until the pork is tender and shreds easily.
  4. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place in a large bowl. Shred with two forks and discard any large pieces of fat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, then add some of the liquid from the slow cooker for added moisture as necessary.
Slow cooker pulled pork shredded with forks on a cutting board

FAQ’s

What is the best cut of pork for pulled pork?

The best cut of pork for pulled pork is pork shoulder or pork butt. Both cuts include plenty of fat marbling which melts into the meat, resulting in extremely tender pork.

What is the secret to pulled pork?

The secret to pulled pork is cooking it low and slow for hours until it’s falling apart tender. This can be done in a slow cooker on the low setting or in a Dutch oven in the oven at a low temperature of 250 or 300 degrees. An Instant Pot or pressure cooker may also be used to achieve the same results in a little over an hour.

For maximum flavor, cut the pork into 4 large pieces and season well with salt and pepper or your favorite rub, and braise the pork in aromatics and a flavorful liquid such as chicken stock, beer, pineapple juice or apple cider.

Is it possible to overcook pulled pork?

If pulled pork is cooked too long, the meat will break down and become mushy.

Can I freeze leftover pulled pork?

Yes, leftover pulled pork may be frozen in a zip top bag or air tight container for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator, toss with your favorite sauce if using and reheat gently at lower heat.

Crock pot pulled pork on a plate with a fork

Serving suggestions

The options are endless for this slow cooker pulled pork!

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip:  Prep the aromatics and pork the night before so that you can dump it all in the slow cooker in the morning and go!
  • I prefer to cook this pork low and slow in the slow cooker.  The longer it cooks, the more tender it will be!
  • This slow cooker pulled pork recipe can be tossed in bbq sauce and used in sandwiches, as a filling for baked sweet potatoes or a topping for nachos.  It’s also great tossed with tomatillo salsa for tacos!
  • Change up the seasoning with my bbq chicken rub, taco seasoning, or use your favorite dry rub.
  • Pork will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, so it’s great for meal prep!  
Pulled pork sandwich on a cutting board with bbq sauce

More easy slow cooker recipes you’ll love:

Did you try this recipe?  If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Slow cooker pulled pork on a white plate

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Servings: 10 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Additional Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is an easy, dump and go recipe that results in perfectly tender, flavorful shredded pork. It's great served in nachos, tacos, sandwiches and more!
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Ingredients

For the pork:

  • 4 lbs. pork shoulder cut into 4 large pieces
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt if using sea salt or regular table salt, reduce the amount of salt by half
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic smashed and peeled
  • 12 ounces beer use your favorite regular or gluten-free beer, or substitute with stock, pineapple juice, apple cider or water

Equipment

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, smoked paprika and cumin and sprinkle evenly over the pieces of pork.
  • Place the diced onion and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker, then place the pieces of pork over the top.
  • Pour the beer over the pork and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for about 6 hours or until tender enough to shred easily.
  • Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place in a large bowl. Shred with two forks and discard any large pieces of fat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, then add some of the liquid from the slow cooker for added moisture as necessary. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Pro tip:  Prep the aromatics and pork the night before so that you can dump it all in the slow cooker in the morning and go!
  • I prefer to cook this pork low and slow in the slow cooker.  The longer it cooks, the more tender it will be!
  • This slow cooker pulled pork recipe can be tossed in bbq sauce and used in sandwiches, as a filling for baked sweet potatoes or a topping for nachos.  It’s also great tossed with tomatillo salsa for tacos!
  • Change up the seasoning with my bbq chicken rub, taco seasoning, or use your favorite dry rub.
  • Pork will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, so it’s great for meal prep! 

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 839mg, Potassium: 675mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 362IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Author: Marcie
Keyword: pulled pork crock pot recipe, pulled pork recipe slow cooker, slow cooker pulled pork
All recipes and images © Flavor the Moments.
Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

**This recipe was originally published in June 2014. The photos have been updated and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.

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